/ Editor's Note, Winter 2006

by Anokhi Admin

Editor’s Note, Winter 2006

Aug 06, 2013

If you let other people’s vision of you shape who you become, then, you’re never going to create your own space in this world. Just ask the people who made the cut for ANOKHI’s third annual Sexy and Successful South Asians List (p.96). Defying convention is certainly the common theme that runs through each of these inspiring stories. Pushing back on boundaries, being fabulously ahead-of-the-curve and rising above the clutter are why these people make us proud.

And defying convention is also the running theme for the rest of our winter issue. Our fashion pages explode with fashion designer Manish Arora’s psychedelic, in-your-face aesthetic, where his theatrical array of kaleidoscopic prints, animal motifs and clashing colours are both startling and refreshing (p.16).

Our wellness section explores the practice of yoga in a time when we all tend to feel glum and lifeless. Learn exercises, and the philosophies behind them, to help you kick the gloomy, cold days of winter in the butt, while maintaining a positive state of mind (p.72).

In this issue’s entertainment section, we profile director Jagmohan Mundhra, a treasured South Asian icon for his work on the plight of women. He is viewed, even in India, as someone who pushes just beyond the boundaries of unconventional filmmaking. In fact, he sees filmmaking as a way to raise awareness of social issues, irrespective of mass appeal. With 25 cutting-edge films to his credit, his latest work Provoked (based on Kiranjeet Ahluwalia’s autobiography Circle of Light), featuring Aishwarya Rai, Miranda Richardson, Naveen Andrews and Nandita Das, tells the harrowing true story of Ahluwalia, who was systematically abused by her husband for ten years and wrongly sentenced for setting fire to, and killing, her husband (p.136).

Director Vic Sarin chose to produce a movie that is set amidst the gory landscape of 1947. Partition recounts the turmoil of troubled times as the great divide between nations, communities, religions and trust consumed India. The movie captures the soul of a turbulent era, and against this backdrop, a saga of love blossoms between a Sikh man (Jimi Mistry) and a Muslim woman (Kristin Kreuk), even as hate is rampant (p.132).

We also chat with actor Jimi Mistry, whose boyish charm and sheer intensity treat audiences to memorable performances (p.128). And, our cover story features Kal Penn all grown up. He talks about his latest role in Mira Nair’s much anticipated movie The Namesake (p.80).

When we started ANOKHI four years ago, we could have listened to the negative buzz about why a South Asian fashion, lifestyle and entertainment magazine would never work. Yes, we were aware of industry statistics, but this only fed our drive to be a part of something that we believed in. This issue is a celebration of movers and shakers who have the intensity and boundless energy to never back down and never look back. Just like us. Cheers to a New Year of more of the same.